Alamara Viriato Djabi should be all smiles right now. He just debuted for Midtjylland’s main team on August 28. It’s a big step in any player’s journey. But a shadow hangs over his story. His name recently appeared in Portuguese news, linked to an investigation by ‘Público’ newspaper.
The investigation uncovered something troubling. Djabi, a midfielder from Guinea-Bissau, became the face of a big issue in global football. It’s the problem of faking ages and identities. According to ‘Público’, which saw official documents, Djabi was 19 when he arrived in Portugal in 2019. However, the documents used to register him with the Portuguese Football Federation claimed he was only 13. This meant six years were cut from his real age. His agent at the time, Catió Baldé, presented these documents. Baldé denied his involvement to ‘Público’. Yet, sources from within the Olivais e Moscavide club and elsewhere confirmed his role in the process.
Today, Alamara Viriato Djabi is 24 years old. He will turn 25 on the upcoming August 28. This former Benfica academy gem had a quick stop at Sporting and Sp. Braga early in his career. He then spent just four days at Olivais e Moscavide before joining Benfica’s youth setup for four years. Now, he’s a part of the Midtjylland senior squad. He has already won two national U19 championships with the club.
This isn’t the first time Catió Baldé has faced serious questions. Back in 2020, he was accused of corruption. The accusation stated he paid over 20,000 euros. This money allegedly went to an employee at the Portuguese embassy in Guinea-Bissau. The purpose was to get visas for athletes who wanted to try out for Benfica.